Machine for striping film



Aug. 28, 1962 l.. A. wlLKINs MACHINE FOR STRIPING FILM Filed Sept. 6,1960 sur.

3,050,758 MACHINE FR STlNG HLM Lowell A. Wilkins, 6 N. 256th Ave.,Roselle, lli. Filed Sept. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 53,983 2 Claims. (Cl.15-109) .The present invention relates to an apparatus for applying asound track to a motion picture film and, more specically, to apparatusfor conditioning the film to receive an adherent magnetic sound track.

Magnetic sound tracks on motion picture film are becoming more commonlyused in place of the conventional optical sound tracks largely becauseof the factors of lower cost and the ability to erase and edit amagnetic sound track. Magnetic sound on film is particularly attractivefor the home movie field for these reasons.

The only area available for the incorporation of a magnetic sound trackon a conventional motion picture film is the area between the marginaledge of the film and the edge of the sprocket holes. Since this area isquite limited in lateral extent, it is imperative that the magneticmaterial be deposited uniformly along this limited area if satisfactoryrecording is to be achieved.

The magnetic sound track can be applied as a paint or coating containingfinely divided, magnetic iron oxide (either a gamma ferrie oxide orferrosoferric oxide) in combination with a binder resin which may be aphenolic resin, or a thermoplastic resin such as a vinyl resin, Thebinder must be such that it resists the action of the developingchemicals employed in the processing of the exposed motion picture lilm.

It is particularly ditiicult to secure a magnetic sound track to colorfilms and the like which contain an antihalation backing containingfinely divided carbon particles. The presence of this backingsubstantially interferes with the ability of the resinous binder in themagnetic sound track to adhere to the film base, One of the principalobjects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forcontinuously removing a'predetermined portion of such anti-halationlayer to render the film receptive to a subsequently applied magneticsound track.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved cleaningroller assembly for wiping E a predetermined portion of an anti-halationlayer from a motion picture film.

In its broader aspects, the present invention contemplates moving amotion picture lm at a substantially uniform rate against a periphery ofa roller moving in the opposite direction, and supplying a solvent tothe roller along a predetermined area thereof to thereby rub oft apredetermined area of the anti-halation layer. The apparatus embodyingthe invention also provides means for continuously cleaning the rollerof the carbonaceous materials which are picked up during the treatmentof the motion picture film.

A further description of the present invention will be made inconjunction with the attached sheet of drawings, in which: v

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat schematic View of the assembly employed in apreferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional View of the 'cleaning roll assemblyemployed in the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

As shown in the drawings:

In FIGURE 1, reference numeral indicates generally a light-tight housingin which the remaining elements of the assembly are located. Unexposedfilm with the emulsion side up, is fed from a supply roller 11 at asubstantially uniform rate. The film 12 is put under tension by passingthe lm over a sprocket 13 and then under a tension roller 14. Thesprocket 13 is Vdriven in a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFIGURE 1 by any suitable drive means.

The tensioned film then is pressed against the periphery of a cleaningroller assembly by a pressure roller 15. The cleaning roller isgenerally indicated at numeral 16 of the drawings and is morespecifically illustrated in FIGURE 2. As illustrated, the cleaningroller 16 rotates in a clockwise drection as viewed in FIGURE 1 so thatthe periphery of the cleaning roller 16 moves in a direction opposite tothe direction of movement of the film 12 as it passes over the peripheryof the roller. The cleaning roller 16 may be driven by means of a motor17 0r ,any other suitable drive means.

After leaving the periphery of the cleaning roller 16, the film 12passes under a second tensioning roller 18 and on to a sprocket 19 whichdelivers the film 12 to a takeup roller 21 where it is wound up into areel.

Turning to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that the cleaning roller 16consists of a hub 22 mounted on a spindle 23 including a slotted headportion 23a and a nut 25. rthe assembly of FIGURE 1 is intended toprovide two striped areas along the margins of a sixteen millimeter filmso that the film may be slit longitudinally in the usual manner .toproduce two S-millimeter films. Accordingly, the cleaning roller 16is-provided with two film contacting surfaces which take the form ofabsorptive, liquid permeable pads such as felt pads 24 and 26. A pair ofend plates 27 and 28 are provided to confine the pads 24 and 26 betweenthe plates andthe hub 22 and thereby determine the thickness of thepads24 and 26 as they wipe against the film. A plurality of stop pins 29extend from the hub 22 to engage the plates 27 and 28 to prventexcessive compression of the pads 24 and 26.

Returning to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the cleaning roller 16 ispartially immersed in a `tank 3,1 containing a solvent 32 which iscapable of penetrating the antihalation layer on the film 12. Suitablesolvents include methanol or more preferably, a combination of threeparts methanol with one part acetone. Still another example of asuitable solvent is that containing ve parts methanol with one partmethyl chloride.

As the cleaning roller 16 revolves, it picks up additional amounts ofthe solvent 32 by capillary action Within the felt pads 24 and 26. lnorder to clean the felt pads continuously to remove any accumulatedcarbon particles therefrom, I provide a pair of spray nozzles 301V whichdirect a spray against the felt pads 24 and 26. In order to avoidsplashing of the solvent 32, it is desirable to maintain the spraynozzles 314 below the level of the liquid in the tank 31.

A wringer roller 36 may be provided against the felt pads 24 and 26 toremove excess solvent, but still leave the pads 24 and 26 suliicientlymoist to remove the predetermined areas of the film base. i

The solvent 32 may be continuously or periodically withdrawn from thetank '31 through a line 37 and the solvent then directed into a filter38 where contaminants such as carbon particles can be removed. The cleansolvent is then passed into a tank 39 where a pump 4-1 directs the cleansolvent into the spray nozzles 34.

After the lm has been conditioned by the removal of the preselectedareas in the manner described, the sound track may be applied by anyconventional striping machine. The sound track material will normally bein a form of a lacquer containing a binder and the nely divided ironoxide particles.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the apparatus embodyingthe present invention provides a convenient and continuous means forconditioning the surface of a motion picture film for the reception of amagnetic sound track. It should also be evident that Fatented Aug. 28,1962 various modications can be made to the described embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim yas my invention:

1. Apparatus' for conditioning aY motion picture lm having ananti-halation layer for the reception of a magnetic sound track whichcomprises a tank containing a solvent for penetrating said anti-halationlayers, a roller partially immersed in said tank, a liquid permeable pad'carried by said roller and supplied with solvent from said tank, meansfor moving a motion picture film across said pad so that said pad rubssaid solvent onto saidY antihalation layer along a limited portionthereof, means for rotating said roller so that its periphery moves in adirection opposite to the movement of said lm past said roller, and aspray device arranged to direct a spray of solvent at saidrpad at anarea remote from the rubbing area to clean the same.

2. Apparatus for conditioning a motion picture lrn having ananti-halation layer for the reception of a magadr/5e netic sound trackwhich comprises la tank containing a solvent for penetrating saidanti-halaton layer, a roller.

partiallyV immersed in said tank, a liquid permeable pad carried by saidroller and supplied with solvent from said tank, means for moving amotion picture film across said pad so that said pad rubs said solventonto said antihalation layer along a limited portion thereof, a sprayde- References Cited in the iiley of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS1,352,713 Werner Sept. 14, 192()V 1,984,456 Bonamico Dec. 18,193.4V2,305,011 Kienninger Dec. 15, 1942 2,797,170 Speed et al Junet25, 19'57

